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09363623
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Namesake
Lawrence York Spear (23 October 1879 - 9 September 1959) graduated second in his class at the Naval Academy in 1890. He served as an ensign in Pensacola, Baltimore (C-3), and
Charleston (C-2) in the Atlantic and South Pacific for nearly 2 years.
In 1891, due to his ability and enthusiasm in the project of modernizing the Navy, he was transferred to the Construction Corps and sent to the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland. Returning with a B.S. in 1893, he spent most of the next 9 years acquiring construction experience in shipyards across the country. While Superintendent of Construction at Crescent Shipyard, Elizabethport, N.J., from 1898 to 1902, he helped build five Holland-designed submarines, first of the U.S. undersea fleet.
In 1902, he resigned his commission as lieutenant to join the Electric Boat Co., successor to the Holland Torpedo Boat Co., founded by inventor John P. Holland. Spear then devoted
more than 48 years to the construction of submarines. He is credited with six basic design concepts which are an integral part of all modern naval submarines, including double hull
amidships, single hull ends, and propelling apparatus. His great faith in the importance of file submarine was more than justified by the decisive role the Navy's undersea fleet
played in destroying the power of the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II. As company president, 1942 to 1947, he directed the production of more than half of the submarines
completed during the war
Spear retired in 1947 to serve as board chairman for the next 3 years, and died at Groton, Conn., 9 September 1950. (Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships)
| Tommy Trampp |
09363605 |
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L. Y. Spear (AS-36), launching ceremony, 7 September 1967.at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA.
General Dynamics photo GD PQ-566-1, now in the collections of the US Naval History and Heritage Command |
Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret. |
09363624 |
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Ship's sponsor Mrs. Arnold F. Schade, wife of VADM Shade christens L. Y. Spear (AS-36) during the ship's launching,
7 September 1967, at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA. |
Dale Hargrave |
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Tugs move L. Y. Spear (AS-36) to her fitting out pier after launching, 7 September 1967, at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA.
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Dale Hargrave |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) underway, circa 1971, location unknown.
US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1971 |
Scott Koen |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) underway, off Norfolk, VA. date unknown
©Nobe Smith |
Nicholas Tiberio |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) moored at Pier 22, D&S piers, Naval Station, Norfolk VA., date unknown.
US Navy photo |
Scott Koen |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) under way, date and location unknown. |
Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) moored at Pier 22, D&S piers, Naval Station, Norfolk VA., circa 1980-1981.
Note that a portion of the 05 level forward was painted white to help with the heat problem in radio central. |
Rick Sherley |
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Bow and stern views of USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) in a two point moor in the lagoon at Diego Garcia British Indian Ocean Territory (B.I.O.T.)
during her first deployment to Diego Garcia, circa spring 1980. Alongside to port is a 688 Los Angeles class submarine and a 637 Sturgeon class submarine and to
starboard,USS Davidson (FF-1045)
inboard with USS Truxtun (CGN-35) outboard. Note that by mooring Davidson
inboard of Truxtun a lee was created that made for safer boat landings using Spear's after starboard accommodation ladder.
The lagoon could get rough at times, causing small boat operations to be reduced or curtailed all together.
Also note that it was Vertrep day for all units and one of the birds had landed briefly on Spear's helo deck.
The surface ships normally rotated every 7 days and the subs every 30 days and there were no tugs then, just a very good CPO harbor/docking pilot.
For this deployment Spear traveled a total of 20,000 miles and spent 97 days in the lagoon. |
Rick Sherley |
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09353969 |
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USS Emory S. Land (AS-39) and and USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) at the Destroyer and Submarine Piers, Naval Station,
Norfolk, VA., 3 November 1982.
US National Archives Identifier 6371987 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives |
Robert Hurst |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) underway, date and location unknown. |
Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) underway, date and location unknown. |
Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) underway, off Norfolk, VA. date unknown
©Nobe Smith |
Nicholas Tiberio |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) NAV/OPS Div, circa 1984-85. (Jerrod Brown SM1 is second from left back row). |
Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. |
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Photo of USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) as front cover for Submarine Squadron 6 Christmas Card, year unknown.
Photo by PH1 David Lister
and PH3 Joel M. Reines |
Jerrod W. Brown SM1 (SW) USN Ret. |
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USS L. Y. Spear (AS-36) and USS Farragut (DDG-37) undergoing overhauls at the Norfolk Dry Dock Co., on the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, VA., 14 June 1987.
Defense Visual Information Center photo # DN-ST-87-08678, by Don S. Montgomery. |
Bill Gonyo |
